McCarthy: drafted players will add a shot in the arm to team

Green Bay - Here is summary of comments from Packers coach Mike McCarthy after the draft:

(Better team) Absolutely. Not a team in the league doesn't feel better. Our players in program is off to a great start. Number of players we've added and now in process of adding new members. Definitely a shot in the arm when these guys come in. We got better today.

(Clinton-Dix) Ha Ha being drafted was about how we felt about him as a football player. Tried to improve our safety position. How utilized will be decided later.

(Abbrederis) Definitely increases the level of competition at the position.

(Adams) As your opinions build, his tape speaks for itself. You watch Carr at Fresno, here's a guy catching all these balls. We've done a good job of making sure they're natural catchers.

(Linsley) Nice to draft one that's played the positon before. James is happy. Tough guy. Everybody talk to, good reputation. I view him as a center. I kjnow we move guys around, but important for him to play center.

(Defense) We'll be better on defense. You can write that in big letters. Defensive staff diligent preparing groups and how package guys. Have opportunity to get better.

(Draft) Make sure dialeed here and know who's here. We're not a very vanilla defense. When we draft someone we know we're going to be a multiple scheme.

(D-line) Feel good about both sides of the ball. I really like Thornton's energy.

(Needs) Sometimes perception and reality are different.

(Finley and Jolly) First and foremost want them to be players.

(Clinton-Dix) Our special teams improved. Competition for spot in secondary and special teams. I don't have any slotted ideas he play this position. He'll compete to play. Shown three-down player. Come from a program. He needs to compete with guys who are already here.

(Rookie camp) We're anxious. We'll have a Thursday night meeting. Only practice on Friday and Saturday. They'll be here on Tuesday. Be different than prior.

(Abbrederis and returns) Definitely. We don't draft just returners, but we expect him to compete there. Really good football player. Biggest thing with him is Ted had an appreciation lining up against the other team's top corner and still being productive. Very steady and productive. We don't throw to just one guy.

(ILBs) Our numbers are good coming into this time of year. Free agency is still going on, college free agency. Trying to add a couple players. Probably will add a couple players.

(Quarterback) Always pay attention to every position. Some guys who were intriguing. Our quarterback room is excellent. Been able to do some quarterback school specifics last week and there's some things we can help Scott Tolzien work on. He's very committed.

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I will say that since the acquisition of Peppers and all the defensive draft picks that we have seen in the last few years that have shown flashes, but cannot stay healthy, that the defense will change somewhat in terms of scheme.

WIth that being said, the defensive players that were drafted may play a small but significant role in the defense in a non-traditional way.

We won't know what the final defense will look like until week 1. Should be an interesting experience.

MM did say at training cam that the running game would improve. He may have said "I big bold letters" or something like that, or "you can write that down". Did they improve the run game last year? I certainly think they did.

McCarthy's trying to blame the defense but he choked in the big moment; first and goal at the nine, the game in your hands, at home, 30 below, Lacy sitting like a duck as the game plan implodes. The Packer Defense played Great down the stretch. This is a year to watch out for Dom. He has compiled his hit list. Harbaugh and carroll are at the top. Burnett may be shown the door...

BMS - he was 'ahem' upset in the third round. I asked him this morning if he'd rather have had Thornton or Hageman, and he laughed and said Thornton. So he's coming around. Loves that it looks like TT has decided that last year was a wake-up call for the lack of depth on the team, and he addressed most of that - playing to win now as well as building for the future.

He loved the WRs, for reasons we all know (or I assume we know): there are some rcvrs on the team that are at best pedestrian and needed to be replaced. Cobb and Nelson might be gone. And this team was at its best when Rodgers had a slew of weapons; adding this group to Lacy...wow. And Richard Rodgers was a rcvr before being a TE. He has hopes there.

Skov is a little over a year removed from an ACL tear and did have one little red flag in terms of his character with a DUI while in Palo Alto.

Weaknesses: Marginal foot speed -- limited twitch and agility to adjust to movement in coverage and could be exposed by NFL backs and tight ends (though still does not look fully recovered from ACL injury). Has very short arms. Can play with too much abandon and recklessly miss some tackles flying to the ball (out of control). Long-term durability is a concern -- has already had multiple knee surgeries.

Bullough was seen as a great college ILB, but not necessarily someone who could translate well to the NFL.

Weaknesses: average athlete. Not explosive. Tight hips (exposed in space). Limited foot speed, lateral agility and range. Can be late to the perimeter. Struggles in man coverage and is stiff dropping/turning in coverage. Non-explosive athlete: His 31-inch vertical and 9-foot, 3-inch broad jump were among the worst posted by linebackers at the combine.

He also was suspended for the Rose Bowl for undisclosed reason. Again with the character issues.

I'm sure the Packers passed on them for similar reasons why nobody else in the league picked them in 256 picks.

Goodson looks to have possible upside. Maybe they can find another Shields. Not the same type of player, but he might develop into a player. Skov and Bullough won't be any more than what they have been.

The rest of the league thought the same about Skov and Bullough as the Packers.

A voice of reason in the sea of negativity on here. You're right Eddie, he does have some upside. And you're right about Skov and Bullough. Both had character issues and the Pack usually stays away from those guys.

Meangreen, analysts, journalists and especially fans are pretty clueless when it comes to football speed. How many were claiming that Casey Hayward was too slow? Or Micah Hyde? Or Donald Driver for that matter? Yet look how successful these players have been so far. Sometimes far too much is made of timed speed when these guys are wearing gym shorts and tank tops and no consideration is given to the speed of players in full football gear.

What does Scott Tolzien have that the Coach is so high on him? We saw what Flynn could do on his first outing with the team, then we saw in comparison what Tolzien could do his first time out. In comparison, both were with the team supposedly studying the system for about just as long on their first time out, and Scott didn't show any command of the position, while Flynn had some spark. So when would the time come to say, Okay, he had a chance to play and didn't look like an answer as a backup or the next starter, and we'll work with the next candidate? I mean Flynn didn't look good against the rushing teams, by Tolzien didn't look good against any team, yet. So, how far will the team go in developing a guy, until he would show a good game? Is this his last shot at it? Is one more year learning going to make it for Scott? If not, how long does he get to be able to come around? It seems like as a coach Mike McCarthy gets stuck on some of the nicer characters, and hangs on too long with some who might be great character-wise, but have not shown what is needed on game day.

Guess you missed the games that Tolzien played last season. He showed very good arm strength and decent knowledge of the offense, especially considering he only had a couple weeks of study whereas Flynn knew the offense from 4 years of practicing as the Packers backup QB.